BRUSSELS. July 11 (Interfax) - All NATO countries are of the view that Ukraine cannot be admitted into the alliance while fighting is ongoing in that country, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday.
"The war is going on in Ukraine [...], and therefore, I think that all the allies agree that when the war is going on that's not the time for making Ukraine full member of the alliance," Stoltenberg told a press conference.
At the same time, for potentially to be admitted Ukraine must upgrade, to a certain level, its defense and security institutions and strengthen public-administration, including anti-corruption, bodies, he said. Such requirements were set for would-be members whenever the alliance was about to expand, the secretary-general said, noting that that was the only way to ensure the national armed forces are mutually complementary.